One of the poker industry’s most read publications, Bluff Magazine is to publish a list of the most powerful and influential names in land and online poker during 2005 in it’s January 2006 edition. A panel of industry heavyweights and top poker pundits was polled to arrive at the “Poker Power 20” list, which ranks individuals and organisations based on demonstrated ability to be an evolutionary force in the business
Editor Michael Caselli remarked that poker is a game of power: “The power to be courageous, the power to win with nothing in your hand but a fistful of determination and the power to turn rags into royal flushes.
“The Poker Power 20′ is more than a list of top money earners in poker. To truly reflect the juggernaut that poker has become, ‘The Poker Power 20’ includes the companies, the brains trusts and the innovators that have aided poker’s phenomenal commercial success,” he said.
The near exponential growth of poker can be measured in more than just financial terms. Poker’s success and influence is now felt all across the entire social spectrum and can be measured by the number of celebrities, heroes and respected entrepreneurs it has created, along with the huge number of new players it is attracting.
All those honoured in ‘The Poker Power 20’ have been adjudged to be integral to this redefinition of poker in the public consciousness.
The list of finalists includes modern-day poker heroes such as Doyle Brunson, Chip Reese, Chris Moneymaker, Daniel Negreanu, and Phil Hellmuth. It also includes behind-the-scenes poker movers and shakers such as tournament director Johnny Grooms, player agent Brian Balsburgh and WPT co-founders Steve Lipscomb and Lyle Berman. Additionally, ‘The Poker Power 20’ honours pioneering websites such as Party Poker and Poker Stars.